I Took My Test & Found Them Married

Chapter 2

"What are you two doing here?"

The sound of my own voice startled me. It was unbearably hoarse.

Victor frowned, pressed a hand to my forehead, then scooped me up and carried me to bed.

"You sounded strange on the phone yesterday. Then we couldn't get through to you. We were worried, so we came. You're burning up."

He tucked the covers around me and went to find a thermometer in the medicine kit.

Monica brought a basin of warm water and carefully wiped me down with a towel.

"Could you please stop scaring me? You nearly gave me a heart attack when you didn't answer. And when you're sick, you need to tell us right away."

Watching her fuss over me, I suddenly remembered being 9, when my parents had died in a car accident.

A boy at school had called me a stray.

Monica had stepped in front of me and taught him a lesson. When she got home, her father had beaten her for it.

I had felt terribly guilty, but she'd only pointed to the marks on her face and smiled.

"See? Having parents isn't so great, either. I'll be your family from now on. You have me, and I have you. That's enough."

At the memory, all the tears I'd been holding back came spilling out.

Startled, she hurried to wipe them away.

"Don't cry. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have scolded you. I was just so worried."

I dried my eyes and looked up at her. Her concern seemed exactly the same as it always had.

If the flight record hadn't still been on my phone, I might have believed the day before had been nothing but a nightmare.

My temperature had reached 101.7℉, leaving me dazed and groggy. Victor called a doctor to give me an IV, and only then did I start to feel better.

He sat beside the bed and took my hand, his expression serious.

"Nadine, don't ever make it impossible for me to reach you again. I was really worried."

Monica chimed in, "He nearly lost his mind last night when he couldn't reach you. He canceled two meetings and flew here overnight."

I was silent for a few seconds before looking at him.

"Victor, could you stay here instead of going back to Bellacourt?"

He stiffened for a moment, then shook his head helplessly.

"Nadine, I really can't leave the company over there right now. I'll stay a few days. Once the project wraps up at the end of the year, I'll come home and be with you. All right?"

What had I been hoping for?

I swallowed the bitterness in my throat and forced a faint smile.

"All right."

He smiled, ruffled my hair, and kissed my forehead. "You're sick. Try not to worry so much. I'll make you something to eat."

Victor made a whole spread. Everything looked and smelled delicious, but almost all of it was Monica's favorite food.

She couldn't help praising him. "Look at you. You've gotten so good at this."

He sounded exasperated, but there was affection in his voice. "Well, you have a sensitive stomach and you're ridiculously picky. If I didn't make you something good, you'd starve yourself."

Monica laughed. "Fair enough. These past couple of days have worn me out. I need a proper meal."

As soon as she sat down, he handed her a fork.

Throughout dinner, he passed her napkins and poured her water without a second thought. They moved with the ease of two people who had shared hundreds of meals.

It took him a long time to notice that I'd barely touched my food.

He ladled shrimp bisque into a bowl and pushed it toward me.

"Nadine, this should be easier on your stomach while you're sick."

I looked up at him.

"I'm allergic to shrimp."

He froze, then withdrew his hand, embarrassment creeping over his face.

"I'm sorry, Nadine. I've been so tired lately. I forgot."

For the past 5 years, he'd remembered everything I couldn't eat. Once, I'd mentioned in passing that I liked a dish at a restaurant. He'd sought out the chef and learned to make it for me.

His memory was still excellent. It simply wasn't my preferences he remembered anymore.

I shook my head. "It's fine. I'm still a little dizzy. I'm going to lie down."